Nut-cracking machine



March 27, 1928.

w. E. QIESECKE NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed March 3. 1927 5 Sheets-Shea 1Willmm E Gv'escc/fe March 27;, "1928.

.W. E. GIESECKE NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed March 3, 192'? 5 SheetseSheet2 INVENTOR March 27, 1928.. 1,663,980

w. E. GIESECKE NUT CRACKING MACHINE v Filed March 5, 1927 s Sheets-Sheets INVENTOR March 27, 1928.

w. 5'. GIESECK E NUT QRACKING MACHINE Filed Mai'ch s. 1927 5Sheets-Sheet 4 z V I! ale . BY Loan? March 27, 1928.

W. E. GIESECKE NUT CRACKING MACHINE Filed March 5, 1927 5 Sheets-Sheet 5a .3 7/? 3 a a Patented Mar. 27,1928.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFF'ICE.

VIILLIAM E. GIESECKE, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., ASSIGNOR TO CHARLES .1. WILSONCOM- PANY, ING, OF NEW YORK, N. Y., A CORPORATION OF NEW YORK. I

NUT-CRACKING MACHINE.

Application filed March 3, 1927. Serial No. 172,422.

This invention is an improvement in nut cracking machines, and moreparticularly in machines for cracking large and tough nuts, such forinstance as the Babassu.

Nuts of this character contain kernels,

varying in number from one to six,each held in a cell in the shell ofthe nut. The endocarp of the nut is very hard, dense and homogeneous.The pericarp is tough and resistant, and of a fibrous nature, while themesocarp is amorphous and relatively soft.

The nuts are of lemon shape, the blunt or v round end being the attachedor blossom end. The wings .which separate the kernel cells spring from acentral column or mast of a very fine grained hard character, morebrittle, but harder than the material of the wings or that of theendocarp- This central column or mast provides the chief resistanceagainst cracking the nut, in such manner as to open all of the cells, itbe ing desirable to split or burst the nut by pressure on the nutapplied at or around the ends of its longitudinal axis. Because of thefact that the number of kernels, while variable, rarely exceed six, itis desirable to split the nuts radially into six or more segmentsthereby to positivelyrelease each kernel, and with this object in view,the cracking mechanism includes as its principal feature aplurality ofknives or blades, diverging from a common center and designed totraverse the nut longitudinally usually from the blunt toward thepointed end.

' The knives are usually supported by a cutter head, with whichcooperates an anvil for supporting the-pointed end of the nut during thecracking, and-the head and anvil are mounted for relative movementtoward and from each other.

One of the primary objects of the present invention is to provide anarrangement of cutter head, such that the cutting of the nuts intosegments is greatly facilitated, by eliminating the necessity for thelongitudinal cut ting through the central column'or mast.

Another object is the provision of mechanismin connection with thecutter head for segregating the-central column or mast from,

the remainder of the nut during the splitting of the shell intosegments, by cutting around the said column thus to release it from thewings which separate the cells.

Another object is the provision of a cutter head having knives or bladesso arranged that thecutting of that portion of the nut around thecentral column int-o segments is greatly facilitated and with little orno possibility of injury to the kernels during the cutting. v

Another object is the provision in connection with the mechanism forsegregatin the central column during the splitting 0 the nut, means topositively eject the column and the remaining parts of the nut from thecutter'head.

A further object is the provision of an anvil so mounted that it mayyield angularly with the nut to compensate for any twisting imparted tothe nut by the cutter head.

Another object is the provision of mechanism in connection with theimproved machine enabling adjustment of variation in size of the jawopening, that is the distance between the cutter head and the anvil.

A further object is the provision of a plurality of connections betweenthe motor for driving thereof so arranged that either may be used, thusproviding for diiferent power ratios between the motor and the workingparts, and for forward and reverse movement.

A further object is the provision of a type of machine, which may bereadily combined into batteries of two or more, deriving motion from acommon shaft. 1

With these and other objects in view the invention consists in theconstruction and novel combination of parts fully described hereinafter,illustrated in the accompanying drawings, and pointed out in the claimsappended hereto, it being understood that various changes in the form,proportion, size and minor details of construction -Within the scope ofthe claims, may be resorted to without departing from the spirit of theinvention.

' In the drawings:

Fig. 1- is a front view of machine.

Fig. 2 is a vertical section.

Figs. 3, 4, 5 and 7 are sections on the line 3-43, lt, 55 and 77respectively, of

the improved 7 Fig. 2.

head.

the machine and the movable parts and encircling the rod.

Fi 10 is a View similar to Fi 8 showin b b completed.

Fig. 11 is a diagrammatic plan view show- I ing the method of assemblingthe cracking units in batteries to be operated from a common powershaft.

Fig. 12 is a section of detail showing. an alternate form of blademounting.

I Fig. 18 is a perspective view of a part of the blade holding ring.

In the present embodiment of the invention, the improved machinecomprises a frame of suitable structure, in the present instancecomposed of a pair of spaced parallel channel bars 1, suitably connectedat their top by a cross bar 2 and at the bottom bya base 4. A bracket 5is connected with the uprights near their upper ends, and this bracketcarries the cutter head and the anvil to be described. The bracket hasalined bearings 6 and 7 in which the cutter head and the anvil arerespectively supported.

The cutter head comprises a sleeve 8 held in the bearing 6, by means ofa head 9 on the lower end of the sleeve, and a nut 10 threaded on theupper end. The lower end of the sleeve is threaded into a socket in thehead as shown in Fig. 8.

The head has a central bore in axial alinement with the sleeve, and inthe'bore is mounted a cylindrical or sleeve cutter 11, the lowerendthereof being beveled as shown to provide a cutting edge about thebore of the cutter; The upper end has a marginal rib 12 engaging thehead to limit the downward movement of the cutter and a bearing ring 18encircles the rib between the same and the inner wall of, the sleeve,the rib being held from rotation by radial pins 14 engaging alinedopenings in sleeve and ring.

A rod or pin 15 fits within the bore of. the cutter 11, and the upperend of the rod passes through a cap nut 16 threadedly engaging the topof the sleeve 8. The upper end of the rod is adjustably connected withone end of a lever 17, pivoted at 18 at the other end to the cross bar 2before mentioned. Flanged collars 19 and 20 encircle the rod at the capnut, and at the cutter 11 respectively, and the collars act to centertheends of a coil spring 21 arranged within the sleeve,

The spring normally tends to press the cutter 11 downward, but allowsthe cutter to move upward in. circumstances to be mentioned later.

A' link 22 connects the lever 17 intermediate its ends with a cross head28 slidably mounted on the frame. The lower end of the link passesthrough an opening in the cross head, and a spring 24 is arrangedbetween the cross head and adjustable stops or nuts 25 on the lower endof the link. By means of the nuts the tension of the spring may bevaried as desired. The spring northe cutting edge, is of a substantiallyelliptical contour, so that a cutting edge is presented downward, inwardand for a slight distance inward and upward, when the blades are in thenormal position of Figuresv 8 and 10. It will be noticed referring tothese figures that the recesses 25 are of such shape that the bladeshave a limited radial swinging movement. The blades are supported bypivot pins 29.

The anvil is supported This anvil includes a cylindrical shell havingits upper end closed by a head 81. The head as shown more particularlyin Fig. 8, has the upper face thereof slightly conical, and the saidface is provided with a central recess 82. A flaring opening 88 leadsfrom the center of the recess through the head, and the recesses 82 and88 are designed to receive'the pointed. end, of the nut 84 to becracked. As shown, the head is held in. place by a cross pin 85. Aplunger 86 is mounted in the shell, and the plunger is adjustablyconnected with the cross head 28 before mentioned. The lower end of theplunger is reduced as shown at 87 and is inin the bearing 7.

ill!) ternally threaded to be engaged. by the upper cross head may bevaried, and to facilitate this angular movement a hand wheel 41 issecured to the reduced lower end. of the plunger. A collar 42 is.detach'ably held in the lower end of the shell 30 to limit the downwardmovement of the plunger with respect to the. shell, the collar engagingthe annular shoulder between the plunger and the reduced portionthereof. V

A ball bearing indicated generally at 48 is arranged between the upperend of the plunger and the shell 30. As shown in Fig. 2, a head 44isheld transverselyof the shell near the top thereof, and the ball bearingis arranged between this head and the plunger.

Thus the shell and the'engaging part of. the] It will be evident that'byrelative be operated fmanually,

frame, and provided with a- 55 A second pinion 50 on the shaft 55*,

'pinions are free.

7, and the anvil passes through the plate, the plate serving as aworking table.

The'cross head 23 is reciprocated through a shaft 46 journaledtransversely of the cam or eccentric 47 which is engaged by a follower48 connected with the cross head 23. It will be evident that when theshaft is rotated, the cross head will be reciprocated as "also will bethe anvil 31. The shaft 46 is driven from apower shaft 55 also journaledin the frame, and connected to the shaft 46 through an idler shaft 49.The shaft 55 has a pinion 50, meshing with a gear wheel 51 upon theidler shaft, and the gear wheel 51 meshes in turn with a gear wheel 52on the 's'haft46. The shaft 55 may be driven in any suitable manner, asfor instance from a source of powerc'onnected to the wheel 51 secured onthe shaft; The shaft may also and to enable this operation a crank 52 isconnected with the wheel. e

The pinion 50 before mentioned is journaled loosely on the shaft 55 andis adapted to be connected thereto by the clutch indicated "at 58. Themovable member of this cliitch,which is slidable on the shaft, *has anarm 54' secured to one '55 mounted to move laterally in the frame,

end of a rod andhaving guided movement in the mp rights 1. When the rodis moved in one direction, the clutch is engaged, while when it-"ismoved in the opposite direction the clutch is disengaged.

I In order to enable the shaft 46 to be operated from the motor withdifferent power'ratios, a second connection is provided between the saidshaft and the shaft is mounted loosely and this pinion meshes directlywith a gear wheel 52 on the shaft 46. A clutch 53*i's provided forconnecting the pinion to the shaft, and the movable member of the clutchhas an arm secured to the rod55. Tliearrangement is such that when therod is pushed to the limit of its movement in one direction'thepinion'50 will be engaged and the pinion 50 released. A similar movementof the rod to its limit in the opposite'direction will release pinion 50and engage pinion 50 When the rod is in its intermediate position bothThe connection "through the pinion '50 is indirect, that'through thepinion 50 being direct, and the first named connection gives higherpower with slower movement of the cross head and reverse r'ota'tion.

The rod 55 is movec by a shift lever 56.

This 'lever is pivotly connected at one end to the frame 57 Intermediateits ends the lever has 'a slot 58 which is engaged a win 59, dependingfrom a lateralextension 50 on theelement- 54 before mentioned. At

bearing 62 for one end of the shaft 46.

flares toward itsends,

Fig. 4, by engagement lower power gear.

opening enables either by stopping normal position 'ing the wheel 51, aplatf0rm63 the nut 67.

above the head 44 the pin the lever passesthrough the channel of aninsert block 61, which islicld on the As shown in Fig. 4, the channel ofthis plug and the lever has a rounded enlargement at the slot. Thearrangement is such that thelever is held in either of the threepositions indicated in between the enlargement and the walls of thechannel; If for instance a nut harder than the average should beencountered, requiring additional power to cause the knives to cutproperly, the machine may be shifted to the This in connection with thenieansto' vary, the extent of the jaw the proper and easy cutting of anycharacter-of "nut. This'change may be made during the cutting of a nut,that is after the nut has been partly out if desired, the -machine withthe in the position in which they-happen to be, making the adjustmentand completing the stroke, or by returning the parts to before makingthe adjust-' parts ment.

Nuts will be the stroke of the anvil such cases it is desirable topenetration of the to avoid undue cutting of the kernels. WVhen thisoccurs,- operated to reverse the movement 'of shaft 46, returning theparts to normal position.

For the convenience of one manually turn is supported by one of thestandards- 1. Referring more particularly to Fig. 5, it will be noticedthat the bearings for the shaft 46 and 55 are roller bearings, mentionedhas'a bearing-arm 64 engaging the shaft-55" between the frame members 1.

Means is provided for limiting separating met; which will split beforecompleted, and in prevent further blades into the split shell,

and that the bracket 5 before the shifting lever is movement of theplunger '36 and the link '38, and preventing accidental separationthereof; The said means includes a rod 65 hai' ing "threaded engagementwith the end'of the link, and passing through an opening in a transversepartition 66 in the plunger.

*A'nu't 67 engages the rod above the partition,

and the rod is ofsuch length that the nut will engage the partitionprior to complete separation of the plunger and link. To separate theparts completely, the collar 42 is released and the plunger withdrawnfrom the shell, after which access maybe had to The shell has lateralopenings 68 for' the escape of any particles of the nut which may dropthrough the opening in the head 31.. Y

The improved machine is particularly adapted for arrangementin batteriesof two 'or more, deriving power from a common shaft, corresponding tothe'shaft 55*. Re-

ferring to Figfll'l, it will be noticed that a battery of three units isshown, the units being indicated at 69, 70 and 71 respectively. Thecommon power shaft 72, which may be driven in any suitable manner, asfor instance by the belt and pulley 7 3 takes the place of the shaft 55shown in Fig. 2. The units are arranged side by side, with the alternateunits facing in the opposite direction from the intermediate units; thatis with the units so arranged that the operators of the alternatemachines are on the opposite side of the shaft 72 from the operators ofthe intermediate machines.

' The openings 68 in the plunger serve also another function. If it isdesired to twist the nut during the cutting or immediately thereafter,to separate the segments, a lever may be inserted through the openings68, and made use of to turn the plunger. All of the gearing is protectedagainst the entrance of broken particles and the like from the operationon the nutsby the bracket 5.

v This bracket as shown in Figures 1 and 2 is closed between theuprights, and forms a face plate to protect the gearing. It will beapparent from the Figures 8 and 10, that the blades are substantially Lshaped, each consisting of two arms (33X- ne arm is pivoted to the head,and the other extends radially inward toward the rod or pin 15, which isa knock-out pin for releasing the core from the core cutter. Theabutting surfaces of the head and the blades are so shaped, that whenthe blades arecutting,

the upper edges of the lower or horizontal arms thereof, that is theportions of the blade directly opposite the point of greatest stressduring cutting, abut the lower end or face of the head and bear againstit, taking all the strain off of the pivot pins.

In Fig. 12, there is shown an alternate arrangement of blade mounting,and of knock-out pins.

for the blades 77, in the same manner as with the head shown in Fig. 8.The outer or circumferential walls of the recesses are spaced slightlyfurther outward than the corresponding walls in the Fig. 8 construction. A set screw 78 is threaded through the head at each recess, andagainst the set screw the blade abuts when it is inits outermostposition. By means of the set screws the extent of the outward movementof the blades may be varied. In this arrangement also is shown analternate arrangement of kn0ck-out pin. The said pin'indicated at 79 hasa conical instead of flat point, so that the point of the pinforms acontinuation of the beveled surface of the core cutter.

In operation, the nuts to be cracked are seated in succession on theanvil, with the point of the nut in the recess 32. If the nuts arerunning of about the same size, the extent In this. construction thehead. is provided with the recesses 76v of the jaw opening may beadjusted to 7 correspond roughly with the length of the nut. If forinstance, the nuts run small, the anvil will be adjusted toward thecutter head, while if the nuts run large, it will be adjused in theopposite direction. If there is no regularity in the run of the nuts,the adj ustment will be easily made to receive the largest.

The power shaft 55 maybe rotated continuously, and when a nut has beenplaced,

the operator moves the shift lever to connect the power shaft with thecam or operating shaft, using which ever connection is thought mostsuitable. As the shaft 46 rotates, the anvil is lifted, forcing the nutagainst the cutting head. The blades are pressed inward to the positionshown in Fig. 10, and as the nut moves upward, the segments are turnedoutward by the inclined cooperating.

surfaces of the blades, and the core, that is the central mast oreolumnis pressed upward into the core cutter, which cuts it away fromthe remainder of the nut. not entirely separated into segments, enoughbeing left at the pointed end to hold the segments together. When theanvil moves away from the cutter head, the knock-out pin is forceddownward by the link 22,

pushing out the core from the core cutter,

Preferably the nut is I I and positively ejecting the cut nut from themachine.

If it is desired to twist the nut to further separate the segments priorto the discharge.

before the completion of the movement of the jaws toward each other, 7

In Figures 8, v9 andl3, is shown a preferred construction of cutterhead. Refer ring to these figures and particularly to Figures 9 and13,.it willbe seen that the lower faces of the headis annularly groovedor recessed as shown at 82 to receive a ring shaped blade assembly. Thisassembly may be removed with the blades in place. Heferring to Fig. 13,the ring is composed of spacing blocks 83, between which the blades areheld, with the blade radial to the center'of the ring assembly. Openings85 are provided leading inwardly from the sides of the blocks to receivethe pivot pins of the blades. The blocks are also provided with openings86 in their tops to receive the screws 87 which hold the as sembly inplace.

The pins. 14: before mentioned are more it will be apparent that loo rspecially designed to hold the collar 13 in chine, wherein the commonpower shaft is provided, any one or more can be disconnected fromtheshaft without interfering with the operation of the others. That is eachmachine on the shaft is wholly independent of the others,jbeingconnected to or disconnected from the shaft at will.

The skill of the operators of the individ-- ual machine may varygreatly.For instance one operator may be able to crack forty nuts a minute andanother but four. Regardless of the skill of the respective operators,however, the entire battery may continue work-v ing, some of themachines cracking the minimum number of nuts and others the maximum.

What is claimed as new is:

1. In a machine of the class described, a

pair of aws mounted for relative movement toward and from each other,one of said jaws having a resiliently mounted core cutter ofsubstantially cylindrical shape to partially segregate from theremainder of thenut a central column,

2. In a machine of the class described, a pair of jaws mounted forrelative movement toward and from each other, one of said jaws havingsplitting blades to split a nut into a plurality of segments againstcounter pressure by the other jaw, said first named jaw having a corecutter of substantially cylindrical shape to partially segregate fromthe remainder of the nut a central column, said core cutter resilientlypressed toward the last named jaw. 7

3. In a machine of the class described, a pair of jaws mounted forrelative movement toward and from each other, one of said jaws havingsplitting blades to split a nut into a plurality of segments againstcounter pressure by the other jaw, said first named jaw having a corecutter of substantially cylindrical shape to partially segregate fromthe remainder of the nut a central column, said core cutter resilientlypressed toward the last named jaw, and a knockout pin for the segregatedcore operating to expel the core by relative movement of the jaws awayfrom each other.

at. In a machine of the class described, a pair of jaws mounted forrelative movement toward and from each other, one of said jaws being acutter head, and the other an anvil for making counter pressure, thehead including a central cylindrical core cutter and radial bladesarranged about the core cutter, the core cutter resiliently pressed.

toward the anvil, and the head having means for limltlng such movement.

5'. In a machine ofthe class described, a

pair of jaws mounted for relative movement toward and} from each other,one of said jaws being a cutter head, and the other an anvil for makingcounter pressure, the head including a' centralfcylindrical' core cutterand radial blades arranged about the core c'utterfthe core cutterresiliently pressed toward the anvil, and the head having means forlimiting such movement, the blades pivotally'mounted to have a limitedradial movement with respect to the core cutter.

6'. In a machine of the class described, a pair of jaws mounted forrelative movementtoward and from each other, one of said jaws being acutter head, and the other an anvil for making counter pressure,the headincluding a central cylindrical bore cutter.

and radial blades arranged about the core cutter, the core cutterresiliently pressed toward the anvil, the head having means for limitingsuch movement, and resiliently controlled means to dislodge the corefrom the core cutter. r

7. In a machine of the class described, a

pair of jaws mounted for relative movement toward and from each other,one of said jaws having splitting blades to split a nut into a pluralityof segments against counter pressure by the other jaw, said first namedjaw having a core cutter of substantially cylindrical shape to partiallysegregate from the remainder of the nut a central column, the last namedjaw rotatable on an axis parallel with the direction of movement ofthejaws.

8. In a machine of the class described, a pair of aws mounted forrelative movement toward and from each other, one of said jaws havingsplitting blades to split a nut into a plurality of segments againstcounter pressure by the other jaw,'said first named jaw having a corecutter of substantially cylindrical shape to partially segregate fromthe remainder of the nut a central column, the last named jaw rotatableon an axis parallel with the direction of movement of the jaws, andmeans enabling adjustment of the jaws with respect to each other duringthe relative movement thereof.

9. In a machine of the class described, a pair of jaws mounted forrelative movement toward and from each other, one of said jaws being acutter head, and the other an anvil for making counter pressure, thehead including a central cylindrical core cutter and radial bladesarranged about the core ioo ward the anvil, and the head having meansfor limiting such movement, the blades pivotally mounted to have alimited radial movement with respect to the core cutter, and meansadjustable with respect to the head to limit the outward movement ofeach blade.

. 10. In a machine toward and from each other, one of said jaws being acutter head, and the other an anvil for making counter pressure, thehead including a plurality of blades radially arranged about a commoncenter, each blade pair of jaws, one of which is provided with of theclass described a pair of jaws mounted for relative movement cutting andsplitting blades for separating a nut into sections, a drive shaft, anoperating shaft, a connection between one of said jaws and the operatingshaft for reciprocating said jaw when the shaft is rotatingg'a pluralityof normally inoperative connections between the drive shaft and theoper-' ating shaft, said connections having different power ratios, andone being the reverse of the other,'and means to engage eitherconnection or to hold said connections in neutral'posltion.

12. In a nut cracking machine, a cutter head comprising a substantiallycylindrical structure having in ,one end thereof an annular grooveconcentric with the head, a ring assembly including spacing blocksbetween which the blades are pivoted, and

means for holding thering in the groove.

Signed at New York city in the, county of New York and State of New.York this 17th day ofFebruary A. D. 1927.

WILLIAM E. eIEsEoKn

